Josh Warner, a 25-year-old father, tragically lost his life due to a medical misdiagnosis. Warner, a self-employed carpenter, was initially diagnosed with appendicitis, despite experiencing no abdominal pain. After two weeks of persistent headaches and nausea, he underwent a CT scan which led to this diagnosis and subsequent surgery to remove his appendix.
However, Warner’s condition did not improve post-surgery. He was readmitted to the hospital and underwent another CT scan. This time, the scan revealed an abnormality in his brain, which doctors dismissed as a computer error and released him. Warner’s health continued to deteriorate, leading to multiple hospital visits, but he was repeatedly turned away.
The situation took a turn for the worse when Warner collapsed at his grandparents’ home. He was immediately rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in the UK for another scan. The results mirrored the previous scan from Darent Valley Hospital, revealing a large brain tumor that had spread from the right side of his brain to the back and brain stem. Warner was then transferred to the oncology ward.
On September 5, Warner underwent a biopsy and was diagnosed with midline glioma, a highly aggressive form of brain cancer with an average life expectancy of less than a year, according to The Brain Tumour Charity. Doctors estimated that Warner had three months to live, but he passed away just 12 days after the diagnosis at Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice.
Warner’s mother, Eve Pateman, described her son as a fun-loving individual with a kind heart. She said he was an amazing father, brother, and son who touched many lives. Warner had hoped to raise awareness about the symptoms of a brain tumor to prevent others from experiencing a similar ordeal.
A crowdfunding campaign raised approximately $24,500 for Warner’s treatment. Following his death, these funds will be placed in a trust for his four-year-old son, Andrew. Pateman shared that Warner had begun working with brain tumor research in his final days, hoping to help others avoid his fate.
Despite the clear cause of Warner’s death, a medical examiner has stated that a report is being sent to the coroner’s office to investigate any potential missed opportunities. The family is also filing a complaint against the hospital that repeatedly dismissed Warner’s symptoms. A spokesperson for Darent Valley Hospital and Gravesham NHS Trust confirmed that the case is under review.